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¹ After these things king Ahasuerus promoted Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that [were] with him.² And all the king's servants that [were] in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman; for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did [him] reverence.³ Then the king's servants who [were] in the king's gate, said to Mordecai, Why dost thou transgress the king's commandment?⁴ Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily to him, and he hearkened not to them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he [was] a Jew.⁵ And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.⁶ And he scorned to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shown him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that [were] throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, [even] the people of Mordecai.

⁷ In the first month, (that [is], the month Nisan,) in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that [is], the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, [to] the twelfth [month], that [is], the month Adar.⁸ And Haman said to king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws [are] diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it [is] not for the king's profit to suffer them.⁹ If it shall please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring [it] into the king's treasuries.¹⁰ And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it to Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews enemy.¹¹ And the king said to Haman, The silver [is] given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.¹² Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded to the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that [were] over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province, according to the writing of it, and [to] every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.¹³ And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, [even] upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which [is] the month Adar, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey.¹⁴ The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province, was published to all people, that they should be ready against that day.¹⁵ The posts departed, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.